On Mar. 27, 1871, the Arkansas Industrial University, now known as the University of Arkansas, was founded in in Fayetteville as the Arkansas Industrial University, a land-grant institution under the Morrill Act of 1862. On opening day, Jan. 22, 1872, there were four teachers and eight students. Arkansas Industrial University became the University of Arkansas in 1899, reflecting the institution’s broadened academic mission.

In 1873, the university established a campus in Pine Bluff, which was named Branch Normal College and later designated as a land-grant institution under the second Morrill Act of 1890.

The college separated from the university in 1927 and was renamed Arkansas Agricultural, Mechanical & Normal (AM&N) College. It rejoined the UA System in 1972 when it became the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, the state’s oldest and largest historically black college.

In 1879, the university accepted responsibility for academic management and operation of a privately established nonprofit medical campus in Little Rock. This campus merged into the system in 1911, and is now known as the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

Today UA is a competitive research university enrolling over 17,000 students and offering strong programs in architecture, creative writing, business, and agriculture, particularly poultry science.